Call Isley’s at 480-422-5949 for same-day emergency plumbing repair. Our licensed plumbers are on call 24 hours a day, every day of the week including holidays and weekends. Read on for common plumbing repair problems and advice from Isley’s Home Service experts. We are a full-service plumbing repair, maintenance and installation company serving Mesa, Gilbert, and surrounding areas.
You expect the water to come out of a faucet when you turn it on, and you expect it to drain when you’ve finished using it. When that doesn’t happen – frustration sets in. These are 10 common problems that people have with their plumbing.
Read about the 10 things that can go wrong with your plumbing… and more! ⌄
Your home’s plumbing is more than just pipes and faucets. A variety of components go into making up a plumbing system and each of these components must operate as intended to ensure the system as a whole operates as intended. But, like every other item in your home, your plumbing eventually shows signs of wear and tear. Regular maintenance helps address issues before they become serious problems. In the case of plumbing, a serious problem quickly becomes an emergency. Here we discuss 10 things that can go wrong with your plumbing.
This may be the most common plumbing issue, since we wash so many different types of items down the drain. You may even find a blockage in the pipe system thanks to underground obstructions such as tree roots.
There are almost always signs that something’s wrong with your drain before it becomes a plumbing emergency. If water drains more slowly than usual, makes gurgling or bubbling noises, or pools before draining, address the problem early. This post describes the signs and offers advice on clearing a blockage, but if the problem persists, it’s time to call a plumber.
A cistern is simply a tank that stores water and the most obvious example is the tank of your toilet. The main components used when flushing the toilet are the ball cock, float arm, and tank ball. When you push the lever, these components work together to drain the water from the toilet and refill it. The toilet constantly fills when any one of these components fail. This won’t make the toilet overflow (usually) but it wastes a lot of water and over time causes a variety of plumbing issues. If your toilet constantly runs, remove the tank lid and check the components, replacing any damaged items. If this doesn’t fix the problem, it’s probably time to call a plumber or install a water pressure regulator (see number 10).
A leaking toilet is different from a bad cistern, and it can lead to expensive repairs. It also wastes water and may cause mold and rust. Luckily, testing for a leak requires nothing more than a few drops of food coloring. Simply place a few drops into the cistern and then wait. After around 15 or 20 minutes, look in the bowl. If you see colored water, your flapper valve doesn’t work correctly.
Burst pipes typically result due to delaying a plumbing repair for a leaky pipe and are a prime example of the importance of regular maintenance. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to repair a leaking pipe than it is to deal with a burst pipe. Not only do you have the greater logistical issues of repairing and replacing, you also have to contend with water damage to your home and belongings.
Though rarely an issue in Phoenix, frozen pipes cause enormous damage. This is because water contracts when it freezes and then expands when it thaws, resulting in cracked pipes. You can avoid it by preparing your plumbing before winter. But, if you come home to a frozen pipe that hasn’t yet broken open, thawing it slowly should help you avoid the dreaded burst pipe. The easiest way to slowly thaw a frozen pipe is with a hot water bottle.
A leaking water heater causes problems not only with the heater (particularly rust forming) but also with your plumbing, since that rust makes its way through your pipes. Have your water heater repaired as soon as you detect a leak to protect against these issues.
If your faucet begins spewing water, shut off the water as quickly as possible. Typically, you can do this with the valve under the sink in question. Once you have the water turned off, call your plumber and begin clean-up. Move possessions out of the area and mop up as much of the water as you can to protect your floors against mold.
If you have a leaking fixture, shut off the water supply and then check the trap for any blockage (food, hair, debris, soap, etc.) that may be causing water to overflow into the fixture. You may need to replace pipes and/or joints, so it’s best to call a plumber to handle this repair.
A sewer backup may render your entire plumbing system inoperable. It also causes significant property damage and even poses health risks. Have a professional plumber address the issue as quickly as possible.
When your water pressure is too high, it causes a variety of issues, from leaking faucets to broken water heaters and more. A water pressure regulator is the simplest way to address these issues and save your fixtures and appliances.
Give Isley’s a call for any emergency plumbing repair. Our plumbers are readily available 24 hours a day and will provide great quality service.